The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, will be inaugurating the new campus of Nalanda University in Bihar in a few hours today, 19 June 2024. Named after the ancient Buddhist seat of learning, the University was a long cherished dream of the Indians since after gaining independence in 1947. Dr. Rajendra Prasad laid the foundation stone of a research institute to revive Nalanda University on 20 November 1951.
Dr. Rajendra Prasad said: – “It is our desire to revive the ancient glory of Nalanda in the world of knowledge. It is with this object in view that the Government of this State has resolved to establish the Magadh Research Institute for the learning of the Pali and Prakrit languages and also for study and research in the fields of Buddhist literature and philosophy. We are all bound to this common ideal. The name of Nalanda is written in golden letters in our history, for, not only did the quest after knowledge blossom here into flowers, but also because there was a time when it was the center from which went out the threads of education to cover the wide regions of the earth.”
The Indian Express of 21 November 1951 reported, “Speaking on the educational system of Nalanda the President said that Brahmanical and Buddhist literature, philosophy, sciences and art and Vedas and allied literature formed part of the syllabus of that University. The study of four subjects- grammar, logic, medical science, and handicrafts – were compulsory there. Besides these four subjects the scholars had to study dharma and philosophy of their own choice.”
Rajendra Prasad, Premchand & Rasheed Ahmad Siddiqui: Life in the early 20th century in India
Dr. Prasad said that according to Yuan-Chang who came to India in the seventh century that place came to have the name of Nalanda because Lord Buddha who was born there in the previous birth could not acquire their contentment of heart (Na-Alam-Da). “Indeed the gift of knowledge is by its very nature so inexhaustible that neither the giver, nor the recipient, can ever feel satisfied. The gift of money, no doubt, has its limits, but nowhere in the world the gift of knowledge has, or can have, any limit. In this sphere even one man, by his sole effort, can give so much to enrich greatly every human being in the world. This aspiration, imperceptibly bound up with the name of Nalanda, was not only valid for the past, but should also continue to inspire our Magadh Pratishthan in future as well. We should resolve that with a liberal mind we will pursue the study of truth here and will continue to lay the fruits of our efforts at the feet of the whole of humanity.”
“Liberalism of the educational authorities of Nalanda was unique and the seeds of the progress and rise of Nalanda lay in the mental attitude which embraced within its grasp the knowledge and philosophy of all humanity without any kind of prejudice whatsoever.”
Dr. Prasad also said that that it should be the aim of Indians to draw a lesson from the educational system of the ancient Nalanda University and establish again at Nalanda a big centre of art, handicrafts, literature, dharma, philosophy and science.
